A MISSIONARY once preached in the native Irish language, from the text, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), and spoke about the love of Jesus to the chief of sinners. A poor man who heard him came again the next Sunday. The missionary then preached from Romans 5:1,1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” A third time the poor man heard him, and then he preached from Ephesians 2:1,1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1) “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
Soon after this, the missionary found him on the bed of death. His simple testimony was clear and scriptural. He said that he was a sinner, and Christ an Almighty Saviour. “Sir, I never read one word in the Bible; I never knew more than those three blessed texts from it. But it is enough. I believe. Christ is my Saviour. He is my All. All my trust is in Him. All my hope is in Him. Sir, tell me more about His great love to poor sinners. I want to hear nothing else but about His great love. I have nothing else to trust to. Speak of nothing, sir, but the love of Christ to me.”
In this state he continued, filled with joy and peace through believing, and thus he died. Truly, “the entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psa. 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)).